Back when God set up the sacrificial system, He had allowed people who were not farmers or didn't have access to the specifically required animals to buy whatever was necessary for a particular sacrifice; but not only were people taking advantage of that in order to make a profit, the spiritual leaders had allowed "stores" to be set up within the temple. And when Jesus saw this and began to "clean the temple" - the people had the gall to question the Son of God about His authority to do this. Meanwhile, the spiritual leaders should have had the same reaction.
That was God's house! As Jesus answered the people's question, Jesus gave them a hint about His work on the cross. Jesus Himself WAS and IS the Temple!!! They were really missing the point. Jesus was going to offer up Himself as the perfect sacrifice in order to offer the FREE GIFT of salvation to all people...
(John 2:13-22) The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
Today's takeaway: how quickly mankind makes true faith and Christianity into a "religion" - into a church-and-state scenario. Our message in church yesterday included the following points and challenges: religion is about the absence of rules; legalism is all about following rules; Christianity should be all about knowing - and loving - and following Jesus. We cannot expect anyone to just listen to the words we say about Christianity and then be "all in" - - - we need to be demonstrating those words in every aspect of our lives. And this is most critical within our families, if we want to have any impact at all... ... ... I was going to go in a slightly different direction, but God gave me a beautiful example of what was just said...
I literally JUST heard the news of Pastor Ron Barnes' passing. I have tears in my eyes as I'm typing this. I'm so happy for him! Praying for peace and comfort for the family! He was our pastor about 30 years ago! This man was a fisher-of-men!!! He could not NOT share the love of Jesus. His wife very quickly learned that - even while on vacation - the love of Jesus was going to shine!!! Anyone he came in contact with - was going to know how much he loved Jesus! And how much Jesus loved them!!! How much do we love Jesus??? It's not about the religion of it, or the do's and the don't's! If we truly love Jesus and focus on Him and all that He's done for us - we'll be living as we should.
Here is an example of someone knowing the law, but doesn't get it...
(Luke 10:25-29) And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Part of our message yesterday shed some light on the dangers of living by law. When we do that, we tend to invent our own laws, thinking we can earn extra favors, or we have something in which to compare ourselves to others. Doing this puts the focus on ourselves. This is one method of making ourselves Lord of our own lives. And then when others don't do as we think they should, we get very angry and frustrated. Instead, make Jesus our focus - make Him Lord of our lives - and let our motive for everything be based on His love...
(1 John 4:15-21) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
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